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United States Patent |
6,116,403
|
Kiehl
|
September 12, 2000
|
Integrated hanging device for parking meter
Abstract
A clip or protrusion which is built into the mechanism of a parking meter
allows the mechanism to be attached outside the meter housing in an
upright position so that it can be evaluated and simple repairs can be
performed quickly without dropping the mechanism onto the pavement. By
designing the clip with tapered notches, the mechanism can be attached to
various thicknesses or styles of meter housings.
Inventors:
|
Kiehl; William C. (Russelville, AR)
|
Assignee:
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P.O.M. Inc. (Russellville, AR)
|
Appl. No.:
|
212552 |
Filed:
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December 16, 1998 |
Current U.S. Class: |
194/217; 194/350; 312/111; 312/312 |
Intern'l Class: |
G06F 007/00; G07F 009/00; F16B 012/06; A47B 051/00 |
Field of Search: |
194/350,217
312/111,198,312
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
5710743 | Jan., 1998 | Dee et al. | 194/217.
|
Primary Examiner: Olszewski; Robert P.
Assistant Examiner: Jaketic; Bryan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Groover & Associates, Formby; Betty, Groover; Robert
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority from provisional application 60/092,490,
filed Jul. 8, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A parking device, comprising:
a mechanism for the operation of said parking device;
a mechanism housing which encloses said mechanism in a first position
during normal operations of said parking meter;
wherein said mechanism comprises an integral hanger portion for attaching
said mechanism to said meter housing in a second position such that said
mechanism is essentially external to said meter housing.
2. The parking device of claim 1, wherein said mechanism for the operation
of said parking device comprise a microprocessor, coin recognition
circuitry, and display equipment.
3. The parking device of claim 1, wherein said integral hanger portion will
hold said mechanism in an upright position for meter housing thicknesses
that varies by as much as 40 percent.
4. A method of fabricating a parking device, comprising the steps of:
(a.) fabricating mechanisms to monitor payments received by said parking
device and to provide an indication of parking time purchased;
(b.) mounting said mechanisms on a framework;
(c.) enclosing said framework and said mechanisms in a first position
within a meter housing;
wherein said framework contains an integral mechanical support connection
which permits said framework and said mechanism to be attached to said
meter housing in a second position which is external to said meter
housing.
5. The parking device of claim 4, wherein said mechanisms comprise a
microprocessor, coin recognition circuitry, and display equipment.
6. The parking device of claim 4, wherein said integral hanger portion will
hold said mechanism in an upright position for meter housing thicknesses
that vary by as much as 40 percent.
7. A method of operating a parking device, comprising the steps of:
(a.) for normal operation of said parking device, enclosing a framework, to
which are attached mechanisms for the operation of said parking device,
within a protective case;
(b.) for testing and onsite repair of said parking device, attaching said
framework to said protective case by a first portion of said framework,
wherein said mechanisms for the operation of said parking device are held
upright in a position exterior to said protective case.
8. The parking device of claim 7, wherein said mechanisms for the operation
of said parking device comprise a microprocessor, coin recognition
circuitry, and display equipment.
9. The parking device of claim 7, wherein said mechanisms are held in an
upright position for meter housing thicknesses that vary by 40 percent.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to parking meters, and especially to field
testing and repair of installed meters.
1. Background: Meter Maintenance
Parking meter repairmen routinely travel from meter to meter to check for
malfunctions including, but not limited to jams, low or dead batteries,
and reported improper coin recognition. To minimize downtime and avoid
having to stock a lot of spare meters, the repairman must make the repairs
on the street as soon as possible and return the mechanism to the housing.
This is difficult with a lift-out style mechanism, especially since the
mechanism works best when held in a perfectly upright position. The
repairman must hold the mechanism in one hand while performing tests and
repairs with the other hand. If the mechanism is dropped on the pavement,
expensive damage can be incurred. The alternative, taking the mechanism to
a repair vehicle, increases downtime and makes less efficient use of the
repairman's time.
A previous attempt to solve this problem has included a sheet-metal device
as shown in FIGS. 5a-5c, which could be installed on the meters in use.
FIG. 5a shows the device 50 after it is cut from a piece of sheet metal.
The cut piece in FIG. 5a is then bent in an inverted U-shape to give the
device 50', which is shown in front and side views respectively in FIGS.
5b-c. Device 50' can then be attached to the meter mechanisms, e.g., with
screws in the holes shown at 52. The mechanism can then be hung from the
meter housing by the U-shaped device 50' so that the repairman could have
his hands free for his work. Typically, the specific bending of this
sheet-metal device would only fit a single thickness or style of meter
housing. This meant that if a mechanism had to be taken to the shop for
repairs, the mechanism must either be returned to a housing of the same
type or the hanging device would need to be replaced. Specific bending of
this sheet-metal device would only fit a single thickness or style of
meter housing. This meant that if a mechanism had to be taken to the shop
for repairs, the mechanism must either be returned to a housing of the
same type or the hanging device would need to be replaced.
2. Integrated Hanging Device for Parking Meter
The disclosed parking meter incorporates a clip or hanger into the molded
frame of the meter mechanism, enabling the mechanism to be hung or
otherwise attached to the meter housing without requiring additional parts
to be attached to the mechanism. In at least some embodiments, the
appendage features tapered notches, allowing the mechanism to be attached
to various thicknesses or styles of meter housings. Various embodiments of
the invention have one or more of the following advantages:
ease of use;
no additional parts necessary;
proper positioning of mechanism for testing;
saves time in testing and repair;
clip will work even if mechanisms are moved to another style housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The disclosed inventions will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments of the
invention and which are incorporated in the specification hereof by
reference, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a meter housing and a mechanism which has the disclosed
hanging clip as they can be arranged for testing and repair.
FIGS. 2a-d show various views of the meter mechanism with integrated
hanging clip.
FIGS. 3a-b show a close-up of the clip as it fits over a thickwall and
thin-wall case respectively.
FIG. 4 shows a meter housing and a mechanism in their normal relationship
for operation of the parking meter.
FIG. 5 shows a prior art method of attaching the mechanism to the meter
housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be
described with particular reference to the presently preferred embodiment
(by way of example, and not of limitation).
FIG. 4 shows a parking meter with the clear dome portion of the meter case
40 removed. Portions of the meter case 40 which are still visible include
the vault 41. which holds collected coins and mechanism housing 43.
Specifically seen as parts of the mechanism housing is a slot 45 for
receiving coins and a larger slot 46 for receiving a debit card. Seen
sitting inside the mechanism housing are the working parts of the meter,
which are attached together and collectively form a single unit referred
to as the mechanism 42. The mechanism 42 includes a display 44, as well as
parts less readily seen in this drawing, including a microprocessor,
mechanisms for the detection and identification of coins inserted into the
meter, mechanisms to display time which has been purchased by the user on
the display 44, and mechanisms for communications with smart cards, if
applicable.
When a repairman arrives to check the working of a parking meter, he must
remove the mechanism 42 from inside the mechanism housing 43 to allow
access to the parts. The disclosed integrated hanging clip allows the
mechanism 42 to be hung on the mechanism housing 43, as seen in FIG. 1.
The clip holds the working parts in their normal upright position so that,
e.g., coins can be inserted into the coin slot 45 to test the meters
response.
FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c show rear, side and front views respectively of the
mechanism 42 after removal from the mechanism housing. Clearly seen are
the meter display 44 and coin input slot 45. It is under-stood that the
exact features seen in these views are not critical to the use of the
invention, but are only intended to give an example of its use. The
integrated hanging clip is seen in FIGS. 2a and 2b as part of the
mechanism 42 and in close-up in FIG. 2d. In the presently preferred
embodiment, the hanging clip has three parts which, although highlighted
in the drawings, are an integral part of the mechanism when it is formed.
The integrated hanger is designed to work with meter housing walls which
can vary in thickness by over 40 percent, i.e. from approximately 5/32 of
an inch for zinc housings to approximately 3/8 of an inch for iron
housings. An elongated L-shaped hanger 10 descends from an overhanging
portion of the mechanism, where it can engage a sidewall of the meter
housing when needed. Stops 12 below each end of the hanger provide support
which helps hold the mechanism in the desired upright position.
FIGS. 3a and 3b demonstrate the use of the integrated hanging clip with
both thick-walled and thin-walled meter housings.
In FIG. 3a, the clip is positioned so that the mechanism housing 43 is
cradled within the inverted "L" of the hanger 10. The downwardly extending
portion of the "L" is tapered, so that an upright position can be
maintained on various widths of mechanism housing 43.
In FIG. 3b, the clip is positioned with the wall of the mechanism housing
braced inside the upper leg of the inverted "L" of the hanger 10, again
holding the mechanism 42 in an upright position for testing despite the
thinness of the mechanism housing wall 43.
According to a disclosed class of innovative embodiments, there is
provided: A parking device, comprising: a mechanism for the operation of
said parking device; a mechanism housing which encloses said mechanism in
a first position during normal operations of said parking meter; wherein
said mechanism comprises an integral hanger portion for attaching said
mechanism to said meter housing in a second position such that said
mechanism is essentially external to said meter housing.
According to another disclosed class of innovative embodiments, there is
provided: A method of fabricating a parking device, comprising the steps
of: (a.) fabricating mechanisms to monitor payments received by said
parking device and to provide an indication of parking time purchased;
(b.) mounting said mechanisms on a framework; (c.) enclosing said
framework and said mechanisms in a first position within a meter housing;
wherein said framework contains an integral mechanical support connection
which permits said internal housing and said circuitry to be attached to
said meter housing in a second position which is external to said meter
housing.
According to another disclosed class of innovative embodiments, there is
provided: A method of operating a parking device, comprising the steps of:
(a.) for normal operation of said parking device, enclosing a framework,
to which are attached mechanisms for the operation of said parking device,
within a protective case; (b.) for testing and onsite repair of said
parking device, attaching said framework to said protective case by a
first portion of said framework, wherein said mechanisms for the operation
of said parking device are held upright in a position exterior to said
protective case.
MODIFICATIONS AND VARIATIONS
As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovative concepts
described in the present application can be modified and varied over a
tremendous range of applications, and accordingly the scope of patented
subject matter is not limited by any of the specific exemplary teachings
given.
For example, other shapes can be used for the hanger portion of the clip,
e.g. the hanger can have an inverted stairstep shape, where various
thickness each have a step to provide the proper vertical alignment. Less
preferably, the hanger can be a single downwardly extending portion of the
mechanism. with, e.g., a screw adjustment to allow for different
thicknesses of meter housing. Additionally, the stops can have different
shapes than disclosed, be fewer or greater in number, or less preferably,
be omitted, so that the meter housing rests against the main portion of
the mechanism.
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